Page 17 of Brewing Up Christmas

Hey, I’ve got an idea. Meet me at the bookshop tomorrow morning? We need to plan something big.

He hit send and set the phone back down, a sense of excitement buzzing through him. As he lay back down, his mind raced with thoughts of how they could pull it off—organizing the town, reaching out to local businesses, making it a real community effort. By the time he drifted off again, his heart was lighter than it had been in days.

The next morning, Eli arrived at Harbor Craft Brewing & Books early, the crisp winter air nipping at his face as he stepped inside the warm, familiar space. Margot was already there, sitting at one of the tables with a cup of coffee in hand, her eyes bright with curiosity.

“You better have a good reason for dragging me out of bed this early,” she said, a teasing grin on her face.

Eli chuckled, grabbing his own coffee from the counter before sitting across from her. “Trust me, you’re gonna love this.”

He quickly outlined the idea—a town-wide food drive to benefit the local homeless shelter. They could get businesses involved, encourage people to donate canned goods, and turn it into a real event, something that would bring the whole town together. By the time he finishedexplaining, Margot was already nodding, her excitement growing with every word.

“I love it,” she said, her grin widening. “This is exactly what we need to cap off the season.”

Eli felt a surge of relief and excitement at her words. “I knew you’d be on board. But we need to move fast if we’re going to make this happen.”

Margot pulled out her phone, already typing away. “I’ll start reaching out to businesses. Kayla will definitely be in, and I’m sure Nolan will want to help too. We can set up collection points around town, get everyone involved.”

Eli nodded, his mind racing with logistics—who to contact, how to promote it, how to make sure the shelter received everything they needed. The more they talked, the more the plan started to take shape, and by the time they left the shop that morning, the spark of an idea had turned into a full-blown plan.

By the end of the week, the town of Bayshore was buzzing with activity. Flyers were posted in every shop window, social media was flooded with posts about the food drive, and donation boxes had popped up all over town, from the Seaside Café to Harbor Craft.

Local businesses were quick to jump in—Kayla had her entire staff collecting canned goods from customers,Nolan had set up a donation station right by the bar, and Margot had worked her magic, enlisting nearly every shop owner in town to contribute in some way.

The day of the drive, the air was filled with the unmistakable feeling of Christmas. Snow gently fell in soft, delicate flakes, coating the ground in a fresh layer of white. The streets were lined with people carrying bags of donations, their faces bright with holiday cheer. The town square, once again the heart of the community, was bustling with volunteers sorting and packing boxes of food.

Eli stood in the middle of it all, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets as he watched the scene unfold around him. Nolan was busy packing bags of donated goods into a truck that would take everything to the shelter. Kayla stood nearby, handing out cups of hot chocolate to the volunteers, her smile wide as she chatted with the townspeople. Margot was in her element, organizing the chaos with her usual efficiency, directing people to where they were needed with a bright smile.

Eli couldn’t help but grin. This was what it was all about—the community coming together, not for the lights or the decorations, but for something real. The warmth and generosity that filled the air were palpable,and for the first time, Eli felt like the town had truly come alive.

“Hey,” Nolan called from behind a stack of boxes, wiping snow from his face as he walked over to Eli. “You did good, man. This was a great idea.”

Eli shrugged, though the pride in his chest was undeniable. “It wasn’t just me. It was all of us.”

Nolan nodded, clapping him on the shoulder. “Still, you got the ball rolling. And now look at this place—it’s practically glowing.”

As Eli looked around, he realized Nolan was right. The town was practically buzzing with a new energy, the Christmas spirit he’d been working so hard to foster now shining brightly in every face he saw. People weren’t just celebrating—they weregiving. And that, more than anything, felt like the true heart of the season.

A familiar warmth spread through him, and for the first time in weeks, Eli didn’t feel any doubt. This was it. This was the final act of kindness Angelina had talked about—the thing that would bring everyone together, not just for a night, but for something that would last long after the holidays were over.

Eli stood there for a moment, taking it all in—the laughter, the chatter, the way the snow swirled around the square like magic. And through it all, one thoughtstood out above the rest: he’d done it. He’d helped bring this town together, not with lights or magic, but with something far more powerful—community.

As the last of the donations were packed up, Eli found himself standing off to the side, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time. For the first time, he felt truly connected to the town, to the people, to the spirit of Christmas itself.

And as he glanced up at the softly falling snow, a familiar thought crossed his mind—he wondered where Angelina was.

Xmas Eve Confessional

The bar was quiet now, the last few patrons stepping out into the cold night, leaving Eli alone with the glow of the twinkling Christmas lights. The air inside was still warm, the scent of pine and cinnamon lingering from the holiday decor, but something about the night felt different—charged, like something was waiting to happen.

As Eli moved behind the bar, ready to close up, the door creaked open, and a gust of icy wind swept in. He looked up, and there she was—Angelina, snow-dusted and radiant, her dark hair catching the soft light of the bar. She shut the door behind her, her eyes finding his immediately, locking him in place with that familiar spark.

“You’re still here,” she said, her voice softer than usual, but with that teasing edge that always got under his skin.

“Was just about to lock up,” Eli replied, tossing the towel aside, his heart picking up speed as she moved toward him. There was something different about hertonight. Something in the way her gaze lingered on him, more intense, like she had something on her mind.

Angelina stopped just a few feet away, her eyes flicking over his face, and Eli felt his pulse quicken. The air between them felt thick with unspoken tension, something that had been simmering for weeks but had never quite boiled over—until now.

“I came here to help with the Christmas spirit,” she began, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. “But I didn’t expect to feel... this.”

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